SEA TOLL PROGRAM WORKS IN REDUCING PRICE DISPARITY by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 8,  2019 (Antara) - The sea toll program is crucial for Indonesia, which is one of the world's largest maritime countries, with some 5.8 million square kilometers of sea territory, while its land territory covers only 1.9 million square kilometers.

               Moreover, the largest archipelagic nation in the world has some 17,480 islands, and its coastline is some 92 thousand kilometers long, making it the second longest after Canada.    
         The administration of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), which aims to develop the country into a global maritime axis, has come up with the sea toll road concept that will improve ports and shipping in order to facilitate the transport of goods across the archipelago.

             The sea toll road service, operational since 2015, is expected to help reduce the high price disparity between eastern and western Indonesian regions, which is so far caused by expensive shipping freight costs, as almost every ship returning from remote areas is empty or carries no freight.

              The Transportation Ministry organized a national seminar on marine toll aboard MV Dorolonda at the Tanjung Perak Seaport, Usrabaya, on February 4, 2019, to discuss the implementation of sea toll services.

   
        The seminar, themed, "To Improve Connectivity, to Open Logistics Supply Routes, and to Reduce Goods Price Disparity", was held in cooperation with the organizing committee of the National Press Day 2019. 
The seminar was attended by officials of the Transportation Ministry, Trade Ministry, Agriculture Ministry, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, state-owned enterprises (BUMN), governments, academicians, and journalists.  
    The trade minister, agriculture minister, transportation minister, and maritime affairs and fisheries minister were among the speakers at the seminar.

FIGHTING INEFFICIENCY, ILLEGAL LEVIES TO CUT DWELLING TIME IN INDONESIAN SEAPORTS by Fardah

Jakarta, Sept 24, 2016 (Antara) - Several Indonesian seaports are notorious for their long cargo dwelling time due to inefficiencies, poor infrastructure and illegal levies that lead to logistics costs multiplying for businesses.

         Dwelling time is measured from the moment the container is unloaded, until it leaves the gates of the container terminal.    
    Due to port inefficiencies and poor port-hinterland connectivity, many basic commodities in eastern Indonesia are twice as expensive as in Java.

         For instance, the dwelling time in the country's main Tanjung Priok Seaport handling over two-thirds of Indonesia's entire international trade, was twice as long as that in Malaysia and five times longer than Singapore.

         Other Indonesian ports take even longer to move containers in and out of their vicinities. Producers pass those higher costs on to consumers.

         Shortening long dwelling times and introducing simple payment systems can help make the port, and hence businesses, run more smoothly.

         President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), whose ambition is to make Indonesia a global maritime axis, has since the beginning of his administration, instructed that the dwelling time be reduced, particularly in major seaports such as Tanjung Priok located in North Jakarta, Tanjung Perak in Surabaya, and Balawan in North Sumatra.

EXPANDING AND MODERNIZING TANJUNG PRIOK HARBOR VITAL by Fardah

 Jakarta, Sept 14, 2016 (Antara) - Development must never stop in order to catch up with technological  progress and demands of the current era, particularly with regard to the Tanjung Priok Seaport, Indonesia's largest and busiest harbor.

       The Joko Widodo (Jokowi) administration has put in place an ambitious plan to transform Indonesian seaports into modern ones to support the government's maritime axis program.

         Therefore, since the construction of New Priok Container Terminal One (NPCT1) started in 2012, President Jokowi has personally checked its progress twice.

         This is to ensure that the port will help increase the nation's competitiveness by developing facilities using innovation and sophisticated technologies.

         Moreover, the Indonesian Port Corporation (IPC), or Pelindo II, has been asked by the president to speed up efforts to increase port capacity.

         This was reiterated by the president while inaugurating the operation of the New Priok Container Terminal One (NPCT1) or Kalibaru container terminal at Tanjung Priok Main Seaport, North Jakarta, Sept. 13.   
    NPCT1 is built on a plot of land measuring 32 hectares and has a capacity of 1.5 million twenty foot equivalent unit (TEUs) per year.

TOURISTS LAUD RAPID PROCESS OF YACHT CHECKING IN SABANG by Fardah

Jakarta, April 29, 2016 (Antara) - Paul Von Wiese, captain of Calypso yacht, was impressed with the performance of Sabang officers manning the One Stop Service office at the CT3 BPKS pier for completing the yacht checking process within a matter of minutes.          Sabang officers broke the fastest checking record as in other Indonesian regions, it could take up to five days, according to Paul who had come with his wife, Mauren Von Wiese, to Aceh for the Sabang Marine Festival (SMF).          The festival started on April 26 and will last till April 30, 2016.          He underwent the check-in process at Sabang's pier on April 24.          "The process was excellent, very practical, and it did not take much time. Two years ago, we had spent five days to check-in, but this time, it needed just a few minutes at the Sabang port," he said on April 26.          The Captain of Swift Colin, Michael Wright, also lauded the cutting down of red tape in Indonesia's seaports.          "We hope this system could be maintained because good services like this will certainly attract many more yachts to visit Sabang," Colin Wright said.

KOMODO EXERCISE FOCUSES ON MARITIME PEACEKEEPING OPERATION by Fardah

Padang, W Sumatra, April 13, 2016 (Antara) - The Indonesian Navy is hosting three international events focused on maritime peacekeeping operation as part of its international diplomacy, in Padang City and Mentawai Isles District, West Sumatra Province, between April 12 and 16, 2016. 
    The three events are the Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo (MNEK) 2016, the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2016, and the 15th Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS).   
    Part of the Indonesian Navy's defense diplomacy during peace time, the events are aimed at promoting a common understanding on tolerance and transparency among navies of various countries.

        The biennial Komodo Exercise's theme is "Readiness and Cooperation for Peace."
   The first MNEK was organized in 2014 in Batam and the Islands of Anambas and Natuna, and saw 14 navies from ASEAN member countries and other states participating.

WEST SUMATRA TO HOST MULTILATERAL NAVAL EXERCISE KOMODO 2016 By Fardah

Jakarta, April 9, 2016 (Antara) - The Indonesian Navy will organize the biennial Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo (MNEK) 2016 focusing on maritime peacekeeping operations, in Padang and Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra Province, from April 12 to 16, 2016.

        "The exercise is unique when compared to other multilateral naval exercises in the region, since it emphasizes on non-warfighting aspects of operational-level exercises," the Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff, Admiral Ade Supandi, said in his remarks posted on the official website of MNEK 2016 (www.komodoexercise.org).

        The Second MNEK will be held coinciding with the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2016, and the 15th Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS).     
     "The three major events are significant as these will help in the implementation of the navy's diplomacy role, and contribute to regional peace and security," the admiral said while holding mass prayers along with some two thousand naval officers for safe implementation of the three maritime events.  
    The first MNEK was organized in 2014 in Batam and the Islands of Anambas and Natuna, and saw the participation of 14 navies from ASEAN member countries and other states.

FOR JOKOWI, CONNECTIVITY CRUCIAL TO UNITE INDONESIA AS BIG NATION by Fardah

  Jakarta, April 8, 2016 (Antara) - Indonesia is the world's largest archipelagic nation, with more than 17 thousand islands stretching over 5,000 km across the equatorial ocean.

         Therefore, inter-island connectivity is crucial to unite Indonesia as a big nation, sprawling from Sumatra to the Papua Islands, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) affirmed.

         "Two-third of Indonesian territory is water, and one-third is land. Our focus should be on water as we are an archipelago. In the past, the Majapahit and Sriwijaya kingdoms had gained eminence as they had focused on the seas," he pointed out.

         For that purpose, the head of state has instructed to start new sea toll routes to boost inter-island connectivity in the country.

SEA TOLL ROAD PROJECT EXPECTED TO EASE PRICE DISPARITY by Fardah

Jakarta, Jan 30, 2016 (Antara) - Indonesia has been developing a sea toll road project aimed at improving the country's economy and connectivity particularly between eastern and western Indonesian regions.          Sea toll roads are crucial for Indonesia, which is one of the world's largest maritime countries, with some 5.8 million square kilometers of sea territory, while its land territory covers only 1.9 million square kilometers.         Its coastline is some 92 thousand kilometers long, making it the second-longest after Canada.  The largest archipelagic nation in the world has some 17,480 islands.          The administration of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), which has an ambition to develop the country into a global maritime axis, has come up with the sea toll road concept that will improve ports and shipping in order to facilitate the transport of goods across the archipelago.          Several deep sea ports in Indonesia will be improved to support his sea toll road concept. They include Kuala Tanjung in North Sumatra, Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Tanjung Perak in Surabaya, and East Java, in addition to Makassar in South Sulawesi, and in Papua.

INDONESIA CAPABLE OF MANUFACTURING SOPHISTICATED WARSHIPS by Fardah

Jakarta, Jan 19, 2016 (Antara) -  President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has an ambition to make Indonesia, in which two-third of its territories are water, a maritime axis and a major ship builder.

         "Ordering (ships) abroad will no longer be allowed. Why should we order abroad, while we are already able to build them?" he asked during a dialog with shipbuilding industrialists at PT Anggrek Hitam shipyard in Batam, Riau Islands, in June 2015.

         The head of state has urged related parties to support the development of the nation's shipbuilding industry by placing orders with them.

         Indonesia has some 250 shipbuilding industries, including over 100 shipbuilding companies in Batam that are able of constructing large-scale ships with a capacity of 17,500 deadweight tonnage, the same as those of cargo ships, tankers, and commercial vessels.

         The country's major shipbuilding manufacturer, however, is state-owned PT PAL Indonesia, which is located at Ujung, Tanjung Perak area in Surabaya, East Java Province.

          The re-engineering ability of PT PAL INDONESIA (Persero) is now available on the world market and its quality is renowned throughout the world.

IMO COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP REAFFIRMS INDONESIA'S ROLE AS LARGEST ARCHIPELAGIC NATION BY FARDAH

Jakarta, Nov 30, 2015 (Antara) - Indonesia's re-election as a  member of  the International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s Council is a reflection of the global body recognizing the country's role as the world's largest archipelagic nation.   
    As a nation located between the Indian and the Pacific Oceans, Indonesia has  affirmed its ambition to become one of the world's maritime axis.
         Having more than 17 thousand islands, Indonesia is the largest archipelagic nation in the world, with some 5.8 million square kilometers of sea territory, that forms about 70 percent of its total territory, while its land territory covers only 1.9 million square kilometers.
        It has a 92 thousand kilometers long coastline, making it the second-longest after Canada.

INDONESIA, DENMARK STRENGTHEN COOPERATION IN MARITIME FIELD by Fardah

 Jakarta, Nov 25, 2015 (Antara)- Indonesia was very much honored for welcoming Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and her husband, Prince Henrik during the state visit on October 21 -24, 2015, which marked 65 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

         During the historic visit which was aimed at strengthening the ties between the two nations, the royal couple was accompanied on their tour by Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen, Energy, Utilities and Climate Minister Lars Christian Lilleholt, and a hundred representatives from 64 Danish companies involved in the maritime, agricultural, urban, clean-tech, design and lifestyle sectors.

         During their stay in Indonesia, the Queen and the Prince of Denmark visited  three cities - namely Jakarta, Surabaya (East Java) and Yogyakarta.      
    Denmark and Indonesia used the opportunity of the Queen's visit to strengthen cooperation in four business sectors - maritime, agribusiness, urban solution and renewable energy, as well as designs and lifestyle.

GOVERNMENT REAFFIRMS MARITIME AS MAIN DEVELOPMENT SECTOR by Fardah

   Jakarta, Aug 21, 2015 (Antara)- Indonesia is one of the world's largest maritime countries, with some 5.8 million square kilometers of sea territory, while its land territory covers only 1.9 million square kilometers.

        It's coastline is some 92 thousand kilometers long, making it the second-longest after Canada.

        The country is the largest archipelagic nation in the world, as around 70 percent of its total territory is water, and it has 17,480 islands.

        President Joko Widodo, who is determined to develop Indonesia as a global maritime axis, believes that the clusters of islands and vast waters in Indonesia could be used as one of the main axis for advancing the country.      
   The head of state also emphasized that the nation needs to promote its maritime identity and culture in line with its vision to become the global maritime axis.

INDONESIA TURNS TO DOMESTIC MANUFACTURERS TO ACQUIRE MORE SHIPS by Fardah

    Jakarta, July 7, 2015 (Antara) - The government is now turning to domestic shipbuilding industries to meet the demands for various kinds of ships needed to support its sea toll road development program.

         In line with the Joko "Jokowi" Widodo administration's vision of  transforming Indonesia into a global maritime axis, a crucial step toward this idea is enhancing inter-island connectivity and increasing the number of ships to serve the Indonesian archipelago, which comprises more than 17 thousand islands.

         Indonesia has 250 shipbuilding industries, including over 100 shipbuilding industries in Batam that are able to produce large-scale ships with a capacity of 17,500 deadweight tonnage, the same as those of cargo ships, tankers, and commercial vessels.

         President Jokowi in June 2015 visited  Batam to see shipbuilding industries and found out that domestic industries are able to build ships.  

TANJUNG PERAK SEAPORT TO SUPPORT GOVT'S MARITIME AXIS VISION By Fardah

 Jakarta, May 23, 2015 (Antara) -- Throughout his presidential election campaign, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo had emphasized on reviving the country's past, on finding riches at sea, and had termed it as one of his ambitions.

        As he was inaugurated as Indonesia' seventh president in October 2014, he declared his vision of transforming Indonesia into a global maritime axis. 
   A crucial step toward his maritime axis idea is enhancing inter-island connectivity and upgrading port infrastructure within the Indonesian archipelago, which comprises more than 17 thousand islands and spans nearly 6 million square kilometers.

INDONESIA AIMS TO PRODUCE COMPETENT HUMAN RESOURCES IN MARITIME FIELD by Fardah

 Jakarta, March 7, 2015 (Antara) - It is the ambition of the Joko Widodo administration to develop the nation into a maritime axis and revive the country's past maritime glory.

        One of the keys to realize this ambition is by building competent and professional human resources in the maritime field.    
  Education and Culture Minister Anies Baswedan and Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Indroyono Susilo have agreed to improve some 900 maritime and fisheries vocational schools to prepare Indonesia's human resources for maritime development.

        The quality of vocational schools will be improved to meet the standard of certification set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Chief Minister noted in a statement recently.

        The two ministers have also agreed to name 10 to 20 maritime vocational schools in regions including West Java, Central Java, East Java, South Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara, East Kalimantan, Maluku, Tual, and North Sulawesi as role models.

INDONESIA TIGHTENS SECURITY MEASURES AS ILLEGAL FISHING ACTIVITIES CONTINUE By Fardah

    Jakarta, Feb 28, 2015 (Antara) - Despite the Indonesian government's war against poaching activities in its waters, foreign boats continue to fish illegally, prompting the country's navy to tighten security measures in its maritime territory.    
   Following President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's instructions to destroy any foreign boats operating illegally in Indonesian waters, the Navy, in cooperation with the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, has been confiscating foreign boats caught fishing illegally in Indonesian waters.

        Jokowi, who has vowed to revive the past maritime glory of Indonesia during his tenure as the head of state, is determined to stop the entry of illegal foreign fishing boats into Indonesian waters.           
   Tough measures have been adopted by the Indonesian government against illegal fishing.

INDONESIA'S TOURISM INDUSTRY TO TARGET MARINE LOVERS by Fardah

    Jakarta, Feb 20, 2015 (Antara) - Under the presidency of Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, the Indonesian government is determined to revive the glorious maritime past of the nation.

         As the world's largest archipelagic nation, some 70 percent of Indonesia's territory is water and it has 17,480 islands and a 92,000-kilometer long beach and coastal areas, the second longest after Canada.

         It also has around 5.8 million square kilometers of marine territory, which constitutes huge marine tourism potential.

         The current government has identified that marine tourism has huge potential, but it has so far been overlooked.  

Year-ender: INDONESIA INTENSIFIES FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL FISHING By Fardah

   Jakarta, Dec 17, 2014  (Antara) -- President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who vowed to revive the past maritime glory of Indonesia during his tenure as the head of state, is determined to eliminate illegal foreign fishing boats from Indonesian waters.            
   According to data, Indonesia suffered annual losses of some Rp300 trillion (US$24.27 billion) due to illegal fishing activities. Some 5.4 thousand fishing vessels reportedly operate illegally in Indonesian waters because the government did not take firm action against them.

         "We must stop them. We must chase them out as soon as they enter Indonesian waters. Sink them," Jokowi ordered recently.

JOKOWI'S MARITIME AXIS VISION ATTRACTS SOME NATIONS by Fardah

  Jakarta, Nov 16, 2014 (Antara) - A number of nations have expressed their interest in establishing cooperation in maritime-related activities with the Indonesian government since President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo revealed his maritime axis vision a month ago.

    Among the attracted nations are the United States, Japan, China, Australia, the Netherlands, and France.

    Jokowi received more maritime cooperation offers from the major nations when he attended the APEC Forum in Beijing, China, on Nov. 10-11; the 25th ASEAN Summit and the Ninth East Asian Summit (EAS) in Myanmar on Nov. 12-13; and the G20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia, on Nov. 15-16, 2014.

    During his debut at those summits, Jokowi showed case his vision of transforming Indonesia into a global maritime axis before several world leaders.

JOKOWI SHOWCASES HIS MARITIME AXIS VISION ON WORLD STAGE by Fardah

   Jakarta, Nov 14, 2014 (Antara) - New Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, during his debut at the APEC Summit and the East Asian Summit (EAS), highlighted his vision of transforming Indonesia into a global maritime axis before several world leaders.
    "Indonesia, a maritime nation, wants to become a global maritime axis, which can bring prosperity to its people," he affirmed during the plenary session of the 9th EAS held to coincide with the ASEAN Summit in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on Nov. 13, 2014.

        As a nation located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Indonesia must affirm itself as the world's maritime axis, he stated.